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Michigan Contraceptive Access, Research, and Evaluation Study (M-CARES)

Last registered on November 22, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Michigan Contraceptive Access, Research, and Evaluation Study (M-CARES)
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0003241
Initial registration date
February 13, 2020

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
February 14, 2020, 7:06 AM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated
November 22, 2025, 11:21 AM EST

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region
Michigan

Primary Investigator

Name
Martha Bailey
Affiliation
University of California-Los Angeles
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Jennifer Barber
PI Affiliation
University of Michigan
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PI Name
Vanessa Lang
PI Affiliation
University of Michigan
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Vanessa Dalton
PI Affiliation
University of Michigan
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Daniel Eisenberg
PI Affiliation
University of Michigan
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Sarah Miller
PI Affiliation
University of Michigan
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2018-08-20
End date
2023-03-31
Keywords
Gender, Health, Labor, Welfare
Additional Keywords
contraceptives, pregnancy, fertility, abortion
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
M-CARES will provide novel experimental evidence on the effects of financial access to contraception in the U.S. on contraceptive efficacy, pregnancy, and childbearing for U.S. women. It also generates experimental evidence of the effects of financial access to contraception on a wide range of less commonly studied outcomes, including physical health and health care use; educational attainment and labor-market outcomes; financial security; relationship quality; mental health and well-being; and receipt of public benefits. M-CARES will recruit 5,000 women ages 18 to 35 years old at Planned Parenthood of Michigan (PPMI) clinics. Half of the study participants will be randomized to receive a voucher to purchase contraceptives of their choice at PPMI within 100 days of study enrollment.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Bailey, Martha et al. 2025. "Michigan Contraceptive Access, Research, and Evaluation Study (M-CARES)." AEA RCT Registry. November 22. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.3241-2.1
Sponsors & Partners

Sponsors

Partner

Name
Planned Parenthood of Michigan
Type
ngo
URL
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-michigan
Name
NORC
Type
ngo
URL
http://www.norc.org/
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
After taking a brief screening survey, a tablet will randomize women to receive vouchers for contraceptives. From August 2018-March 3, 2019, the voucher amounts reflect the total out-of-pocket costs for an uninsured woman to have a Liletta IUD. From March 4-forward, the voucher amounts reflect the total out-of-pocket costs for an uninsured woman to have a name-brand IUD inserted.
Intervention (Hidden)
After taking a brief screening survey, a tablet will randomize women to receive vouchers for contraceptives. For women randomized to receive a voucher, the tablet will display the dollar amount of the gift card and a voucher identification number (VIN) on the tablet. The surveyor will write down the VIN and the voucher amount (VD) on the business card and return the card to the woman.

The voucher amounts reflect the total out-of-pocket costs for an uninsured woman to have --prior to March 4, 2019--a Liletta IUD inserted after applying the PPMI the sliding scale or --on or after March 4, 2019--a name-brand IUD inserted after applying the PPMI sliding scale. Women can use their voucher toward any type of contraception at PPMI within 100 days of enrollment (i.e., birth control pills, injections, hormonal patches, or implants). Abortion is excluded.

Because the sliding scale varies by income group, the voucher amounts vary according to the woman's income group. See appended pre-analysis plan for more information.
Intervention Start Date
2018-08-20
Intervention End Date
2023-03-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Primary outcomes for year 1 include (1) contraceptive efficacy and (2) pregnancy, abortion, and childbirth.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary outcomes include (1) economic self-sufficiency, (2) financial security, (3) neighborhood quality, (4) physical health and ability, (5) mental health and well-being, and (6) relationship quality.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
After taking a brief screening survey, a tablet will randomize half of eligible, participating women to the intervention. Eligible, participating women and their children will be linked to their administrative records and followed in subsequent surveys.
Experimental Design Details
See appended pre-analysis plan.
Randomization Method
Randomization will be done by a tablet at the time of enrollment.
Randomization Unit
Randomization will be done at the individual level.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
5,000 individuals
Sample size: planned number of observations
5,000 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
2,500 women will receive vouchers for contraception, 2,500 women are in the control group
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials

Documents

Document Name
Document Type
Document Description
None at this time
File
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Health Sciences and Behavioral Sciences IRB, University of Michigan
IRB Approval Date
2018-12-21
IRB Approval Number
HUM00132909
Analysis Plan

Analysis Plan Documents

Pre-analysis plan for financial distress (credit reports) 4-21-2020

MD5: 70a65c0e3ebf08bfb54a60cfc979379a

SHA1: a04d11d17af788462f2a3974caf1997112f69519

Uploaded At: April 21, 2020

Pre-analysis per 09-30-2017

MD5: 18b3e34b0b187c97ff0f551c732cb709

SHA1: 1c4650cc2f9f5b97cf8b0b960b7e948535d85da1

Uploaded At: February 13, 2020

Pre-analysis+plan+per+2-12-2020+.pdf

MD5: abff03c6bf92d6f7a72ef68488eec94d

SHA1: da02dbe2832a2d51c217507d650b9ff8cd34f076

Uploaded At: March 03, 2020

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials